ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold Delhaize recently released its second-quarter results. By sticking to its Growing Together strategy and leaning heavily into e-commerce capabilities, the retail giant is making steady moves across the United States and Europe.

"I am pleased to report solid second quarter performance, with strong sales growth supported by positive volumes in both regions. In an environment where customers prioritize value and convenience, our Growing Together strategy stands out as a key strength. Our brands’ unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer value has enabled us to maintain or improve our market positions and continue to drive momentum in growth. At the same time, through strong operational execution by our teams and associates, we delivered a healthy and stable underlying operating margin of 4.0% and IFRS operating income of €861 million,” commented Frans Muller, President and Chief Executive Officer, in the press release.

The report outlined several other highlights, which included:

• In the first half of 2025, we already achieved a key milestone by reaching e-commerce profitability on a fully allocated basis. This underscores the strength and scalability of our omnichannel model, which is a key long-term driver of market share growth.
• Q2 net sales were €23.1 billion, up 6.5% at constant exchange rates and up 3.3% at actual exchange rates. Net sales were positively impacted by 3.4 percentage points at constant exchange rates from the acquisition of Profi and negatively impacted by 1.2 percentage points from the closure of Stop & Shop stores and the cessation of tobacco sales in the Netherlands and Belgium
• Q2 comparable sales excluding gasoline increased by 4.0%, up 3.4% in the U.S. and 4.9% in Europe. Comparable sales excluding gasoline were positively impacted by 0.9 percentage points in the U.S. and by 0.7 percentage points in Europe, due to calendar shifts. Europe was negatively impacted by 1.6 percentage points due to tobacco
• Our investments in expanding our omnichannel infrastructure and enhancing our digital loyalty programs are yielding strong results. Ahold Delhaize online sales increased by 14.4% in Q2 at constant exchange rates and 11.8% at actual exchange rates. This was driven by double-digit growth in online grocery in both regions and a strong performance at bol

“During the first half of the year, we already achieved a key milestone by reaching e-commerce profitability on a fully allocated basis,” added Muller. “This underscores the strength and scalability of our omnichannel model, which is an important long-term driver of market share growth. Our improved online profitability is the result of several key factors, including our orientation towards less asset-intensive same-day delivery models, increasing fulfillment capacity, automating operations, and leveraging retail media propositions. It is particularly encouraging to see that, more and more, customers are finding value in the convenience and flexibility of our brands' omnichannel offerings.”

For more details, check out the report here.

DANVILLE, VA - AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming company and the leading supplier of microgreens to the U.S. retail market, has refinanced its debt to support the ongoing operations at its farm in Danville, Virginia, and has raised equity financing to further support existing operations and fund pre-construction activities for its expansion to a second farm.

“Our vision is to provide local food production of nutritious microgreens to regions around the world, while preserving natural resources,” said Molly Montgomery, Executive Chair and CEO of AeroFarms, in a press release. “We have recently demonstrated that vertical farming can indeed be sustainable, profitable, and produce fresh greens at scale. I would like to extend my gratitude to our financial partners who believe in our vision and have provided financing to support our operation in Danville and commencement of pre-construction activities for expansion to a second farm.”

Equity was provided by existing investors including Grosvenor Food & AgTech (GFA), Ingka Investments, Cibus Capital, and ACEG, and others.

“We believe AeroFarms can play a significant role in the global fresh food supply chain, by providing nutritious greens at scale to local regions around the world,” said Stephan Dolezalek, Managing Partner of GFA. “AeroFarms has now proven the ability to deliver the transformative benefits of vertical farming through a viable, profitable business. To support these efforts, GFA, along with our investing partners, committed funding to support existing operations and enable the company to embark on its next phase of growth.”

An asset-based loan provided by Siguler Guff was used to fully pay off the previous debt facility from Horizon Technology Finance, with additional funds to support ongoing operations at the Danville Farm.

The new loan, which closed in May 2025, provides a more favorable interest rate than the previous debt, interest-only terms, and a carve-out for eligible equipment financing.

Matthew Bernstein, Managing Director in Siguler Guff’s Credit and Special Situations Strategy, stated, “We are excited to partner with AeroFarms in Danville, Virginia, to help them reach their full operational capacity.” Siguler Guff joined with one of the top USDA Guaranteed lenders in the space to provide interim financing that will bridge the company until the permanent, USDA-guaranteed loan is expected to close later this year by that lender.

Waterside Commercial Finance served as the exclusive USDA finance advisor to AeroFarms, leveraging its proprietary Bridge-to-USDA Program to structure the transaction. Waterside originated the opportunity, led the underwriting process, coordinated the bridge loan, and sourced the permanent USDA lender.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Continuing its rapid growth and innovation in the premium beverage sector, Generous Brands has completed a major acquisition to expand its value in the space. The Butterfly portfolio company has formally acquired Health-Ade, a fast-growing leader and innovator in kombucha tea beverages, from private equity firms First Bev and Manna Tree Partners (“Manna Tree”), who will also continue on as minority shareholders in Generous Brands.

“Consumers have entirely redefined the role of beverages, and it’s reshaping the future. They have shifted from just prioritizing taste and exciting flavors to looking for beverages that are also enhanced with healthier ingredients and nutritional benefits,” said Steve Cornell, Chief Executive Officer of Generous Brands. “With its purpose-led brand and products that are positioned at the intersection of delicious taste and modern health trends, Health-Ade fits perfectly into our platform and growth strategy. This exciting addition to the Generous Brands portfolio will accelerate our mission of inspiring more people to thrive through the power of vibrant nutrition.”

The acquisition of Health-Ade will bring the Generous Farms portfolio of premium beverage brands to four; joining the star power of Bolthouse Farms, Evolution Fresh, and SAMBAZON beverages.

The portfolio will be distributed across a diverse set of channels and is expected to generate nearly $1 billion in retail sales. Generous Brands also produces and sells premium refrigerated dressings under the Bolthouse Farms brand. With significant owned manufacturing capabilities, a differentiated distribution network, and a best-in-class commercial organization, Generous Brands is well-positioned to deliver growth and innovation for retailers and consumers alike for years to come.

"We're excited about the addition of Health-Ade to the Generous Brand's platform, which delivers on our commitment that started with adding Evolution Fresh, then Sambazon, to build out the most relevant, functional, healthy refrigerated beverage platform and position it where consumers are actively seeking these functional solutions— within the produce set," said Phil Kooy, Chief Revenue Officer. "This platform allows us to bring the freshest trends, most functional beverages, and leading innovation to deliver breakthrough category insights and growth to our produce partners who have been the core of our success for years."

As health-conscious consumers continue to prioritize a healthy lifestyle, Generous Brands is well-positioned for the future with its leading brands, which offer an assortment of beverages packed with clean ingredients, including nutritional shakes and smoothies, as well as super premium juices. Generous Brands was established in May 2024 as a leading pure-play premium refrigerated beverage platform with Butterfly’s separation of Bolthouse Farms into two standalone entities: Bolthouse Fresh Foods, which encompasses the legacy produce operations of Bolthouse Farms and is a leading supplier of fresh carrots, and Generous Brands.

Health-Ade is one of the leading brands in the kombucha segment, which has been propelled in recent years by consumer interest in gut health products; Health-Ade’s category-leading kombuchas offer delicious functionality powered with probiotics and immune-boosting antioxidants.

Since its founding in 2012, Health-Ade has evolved from selling its flagship kombucha at local farmers' markets into what is now a top-selling functional beverage brand in the U.S., with retail sales approaching $250 million annually and products in 65,000 outlets nationwide, spanning all major retail channels. The kombucha segment has experienced consistent growth over the last five years, and Health-Ade is on track to continue growing in this expanding category. With the addition of Health-Ade, Generous Brands expects to bring the benefits of scale to consumers and retailers – faster and more transformative innovation, broader availability, and additional investments to drive overall category growth for retail partners.

IRVINE, CA - Western Growers (WG) was awarded $486,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the 2025 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program, which will allow WG to spearhead a partnership between fresh produce industry stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable fresh produce packaging alignment across North America. The TASC program funds U.S. entities to conduct projects to resolve barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops.

"The current landscape for sustainable produce packaging is an incongruent mish-mash of contradictory regulations that differ between retailers in different countries, as well as between federal and state governments," said Dr. Jeana Cadby, Director of Environment and Climate at WG, in a recent release. "It is critical that we maintain the functionality of fresh produce packaging while innovating for sustainability to bring safe, fresh produce from farms to the tables of consumers. Thanks to this funding from the USDA, we can continue the important work of collaborating with retailers, packaging suppliers, technology companies, and growers to reach sustainability goals that can realistically apply across the supply chain."

The funding will continue the work started in June 2024, when WG joined forces with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) to form a working group, the Sustainable Produce Packaging Alignment for North America (SPPA), to address the evolving landscape of packaging requirements imposed by both governments and retailers throughout North America.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Igo Fresh Produce LLC, operating from McAllen, Texas, has satisfied an $11,857 reparation order resulting from unpaid produce transactions under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The company is now free to operate in the produce industry. Oscar Manuel Corral Vega, Juan Enrique Gonzalez Gutierrez, and Liliana Rios Saenz were listed as managers and members of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions. This may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are no outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the industry.

For more information, contact Penny Robinson-Landrigan, Chief, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or [email protected].

REEDLEY, CA - With peak season officially underway for its California table grapes, Mountain View Fruit Sales is bringing some of its most flavorful varieties to consumers’ baskets. As the grower sees one of its strongest seasons yet in terms of quality, Grape Grower George Matoian provided a closer look at the company’s current production.

“We have been blessed with an ample snowpack and rainfall for this growing season,” George explains. “The weather has been almost ideal for berry sizing and color this spring and summer. If you remember, this time last year, we had a string of daily high temperatures from 100-114 ℉.”

As George shares with me, the harvest is about two to three days ahead of last season. The overall California table grape crop is currently estimated at 98-99 million boxes (19 lb).

With fields spanning from Delano/Earlimart up past the Fresno/Madera growing district, Mountain View will be in peak harvest over the next four to five weeks, harvesting some of the most flavorful and crispy grapes of the year. This includes several beloved green, red, and black varieties such as Ivory and Sweet Globe; Krissy, Scarlet Royal, and Timco; and Summer Royal. The grower is also kicking off harvest on a recently released USDA variety, Solbrio.

“The 2025 growing season here in the San Joaquin is shaping up to be one of the best quality years we have seen in a long time,” George adds. “Brix readings are averaging 1-2 points above recent years, and the coloring on the red and black varieties has been full and intense.”

The 2025 season presents retailers with an opportunity to optimize demand through Mountain View’s powerful grape portfolio.

“Our grapes are farmed by a group of family farms that have been cultivating table grapes here in the San Joaquin Valley for over 60 years and are constantly evaluating new and exciting table grape varieties for the future,” George concludes. “Consistent quality and a high level of service are what we deliver to our long-time and faithful customer base.”

Be sure to tap into these top-quality offerings to make the most of the peak California table grape season! And for more industry insights, keep reading ANUK.

WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt’s picking buckets will soon be full of premium, high-elevation cherries from now until mid-September. A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries are available in late summer to offer retailers a grand finale opportunity to drive cherry sales through the end of the season. Stemilt’s Marketing Director, Brianna Shales, shares that volumes were down last season due to record-low temperatures during winter, but 2025 has bounced back with late-season Moon cherry supplies worthy of celebration and promotion until the end.

“While volumes of other cherry locales in Washington begin to dwindle, we’re just getting started on harvesting Moon cherries from our high-altitude orchards in Wenatchee, Washington,” said Shales in the recent release. “In 2024, promotions on Moon cherries were difficult to put into action because our supply was impacted by freezing winter temperatures that mostly affected our high-elevation orchards. Fortunately, weather conditions have breathed life back into the trees, and we’re seeing excellent quality from the crop this year.”

Moon cherries have earned their name because they are grown at 2,640 ft. above sea level and higher, or literally, a half mile closer to the moon. Every pack of these premium morsels is filled with large-size Skeena, Staccato™, and Sentennial™ cherries. These varieties bloom and ripen later in an optimal climate where cooler days and nights allow sweet cherry flavor to develop. Stemilt’s founder and 4th-generation cherry grower, Kyle Mathison, is the brand’s storyteller, believing the moon’s gravitational pulls contribute to a uniquely sweet and crisp eating experience.

“Moon cherries have a juicy, crunchy bite that’s hard to replicate if they were grown anywhere else,” explained Shales. “Inspired by Kyle’s passion, we created a National Holiday called Chant at the Moon Day on August 15, which encourages people to enjoy the deliciousness of these premium, late-season cherries. With great quality backing up volume this year, retailers can tie into Stemilt’s Chant at the Moon Day holiday on August 15 to dedicate a day at retail to Moon cherries.”

A Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherries are available in top seal, bag, and clamshell packs that feature a bright moon and a view into the dark, sweet cherries within. Stemilt is always willing to help retailers find success with cherries and can help plan ads and eye-catching displays to make Moon cherries stand out in stores.

“Cherry season isn’t over yet, so keep their space and momentum going,” added Shales. “Moon cherries can be part of keeping the category alive in August and September while supplies dwindle for other varieties. Offering consumers the chance to indulge in one more premium cherry eating experience can help drive last-minute dollars to the category to help you finish the season with a grand finale!”

MOUNT VERNON, WA - Bay Baby Produce reaffirms its position as the largest grower, packer, and shipper of Painted Pumpkins in the United States. According to IRI/Circana 2022 data, Bay Baby Produce outpaces the competition with twice the velocity of any other pumpkin brand in the category—solidifying its leadership in both volume and consumer demand.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Bay Baby Produce is unveiling several exciting new additions to its ornamental pumpkin line. Among them:

• Painted Eclipse Silhouette Pumpkins – A dramatic, nearly black pumpkin accented with a striking pop of white paint. Designed to captivate, this variety is perfect for Halloween and guaranteed to stand out on any doorstep or display.
• Lolita – The newest member of the ornamental painted pumpkin family, Lolita is a next-generation variety that pairs beautifully with best sellers: Tiger, Sparkler, and Casper. Also joining this family are Dune and Noche, each offering unique textures and tones that elevate seasonal décor.

“Bay Baby Produce is all about standing out and shaking things up,” said Lindsey Lance in the recent press release. “We’re constantly dreaming up new ways to wow shoppers and support our retail partners. This year’s lineup is packed with personality—and it’s all about bringing the magic and excitement of fall to life.”

Looking Ahead: 2025 Crop Outlook

With the 2025 harvest on the horizon, Bay Baby Produce remains optimistic. While mindful of Mother Nature’s role, heat units are up in the Pacific Northwest, and the team is actively irrigating and monitoring the fields to ensure a timely and successful harvest.

Bay Baby Produce remains dedicated to delivering quality, creativity, and consistency—season after season.